Seaplane



Feb. 3, 1931. I BELLANCA 1,790,894

SEAPLANE Filed NOV. 2'7. 1928 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE GUISEPPE M. BELLANGA, F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE SEAPLANE Application filed November 27, 1928. Serial No. 322,128.

. This invention relates to sea planes and will be understood from the following description read in conjunction with the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is 'a front view of a plane constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. The sea plane may comprise upper wings 1 and 2 extending from the upper portion of the fuselage 3 and relatively shorter lower wings 4 and 5 extending from the lower portion of the fuselage. These lower wings are preferably constructed with a cathedral, that is, they extend downwardly and upwardly. They may be constructed in full cantilever or connected to the upper wings by vertical or nearly vertical strut members. I preferably connect to the extremities of the lower wings wing portions 6 and 7 extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom connected to the upper wings. preferably at points intermediate between the fuselage and wing tip so that the outer partof the upper wing is of true cantilever form. This 'wing portion connected to the lowcr wings and upper wings has the air foil surface of a wing and is, in addition, adapted to operate as a strut to maintain the spatial relationship between the upper wings and lower wings. The

relativel short lower wings may be hereinafter re erred to as stub wmgs. I may conmeet the strut between each stub wing and the corresponding upper wing and make this a base for carrying the compression ribs which support the air foil surface, but preferably I employ two struts, one of whlch extends from the forward beam of the lower wing to meet the forward beam of the corresponding upper wing, while the other ex-.

tends from the rearward beam of the lower wing to meet the rearward beam of the corresponding upper wing. Ribs are secured to the struts and back the air foil surface. I may utilize one set of ribs secured to and resting on the .two strut's'mentioned to form a wing portion, or, alternatively, I may utilize two. separate sets of ribs each secured to and resting on one of said struts and in this manner construct two separate wing portions extending from each strut wing to the corresponding upper wing. By this construction I achieve an exceptionally strong and light structure with a maximum of lift in proportion to the flight resistance and one which is, in addition, adapted to hold the Y pontoons 8 and 9 in an exceptionally favorable position for landing and loading without the use of separate struts, braces or a carriage for the landing apparatus. The pontoons are secured adjacent the extremities of the stub wings in any suitable way, as, for example, by attaching relatively short vertical members to the forward and rearward beams and by securing the pontoons to these vertical members, or the pontoons may be' secured to the foward and rearward beams by means of suitable fittings. The pontoons may be attached in this manner to seaplanes of the biplane type or of the monoplane type. particularly where the wings issue from the lower portion of the fuselage and/or have cathedral portions adjacent the fuselage.

It will, of course, be understood that the foregoing specific description is by way of illustration and not of limitation. It is my intention that the invention be limited only by the appended claims, or their equivalents, in which I have endeavored to claimbroadly all inherent novelty.

I claim:

1. A sea plane comprising a fuselage, upper wings extending therefrom, relatively shorter lower wings extending therefrom, wing portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the extremities of said lower wings con nected to said upper wings, which wing portions are adapted to function as strut members, and landing pontoons directly secured to said lower wings adjacent their outer extremities.

. 2. A sea plane comprising a fuselage, upper wings extending therefrom, relatively shorter 5 lower wings extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, wing portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the extremities of said lower wings connected to said upper wings, which wing portions are in addition adapted to function as strut members, and landing pontoons directly secured to said lower wings adjacent their outer extremities. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this th day of 15 November, 1928.

GUISEPPE M. BELLANCA. 

